Best 2 Vegetarian Eggplant Meatballs Recipes

If you're a vegetarian or simply looking for a healthier alternative to traditional meatballs, then eggplant meatballs are the perfect dish for you. Made with simple ingredients like eggplant, breadcrumbs, and spices, these meatballs are packed with flavor and nutrition. They're also incredibly versatile and can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. So whether you're cooking for a crowd or just yourself, eggplant meatballs are sure to be a hit.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

VEGETARIAN EGGPLANT MEATBALLS

Vegetarian Eggplant Meatballs image

Vegetarian meatballs browned in the oven. Use with spaghetti, in bombers, and all by themselves!

Provided by Beaner

Categories Appetizers and Snacks

Time 1h15m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil, or more as needed
1 onion, minced
6 cloves garlic, minced, or more to taste
1 eggplant, peeled and cubed
10 leaves fresh basil, chopped
¾ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
salt and ground black pepper to taste
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup panko bread crumbs

Steps:

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add eggplant, basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper to onion mixture; cook and stir, mashing occasionally with a wooden spoon, until eggplant is cooked through but still holds shape, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and cool mixture to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat (such as Silpat®).
Mix Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs into eggplant mixture; shape into 15 to 18 "meatballs". Arrange "meatballs" on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 132.9 calories, Carbohydrate 13.7 g, Cholesterol 3.9 mg, Fat 8.5 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 3.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 140.8 mg, Sugar 2.6 g

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) & OLIVE TRUFFLES (VEGETARIAN MEATBALLS

Eggplant (Aubergine) & Olive Truffles (Vegetarian Meatballs image

these arn't really much like meatballs except in looks. they are light and fluffy and best served immediately from the oven. the mixture can be made up to a day in advance.

Provided by kleigh83

Categories Broil/Grill

Time 1h15m

Yield 24 truffles

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

18 ounces eggplants
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
20 kalamata olives (pitted and chopped)
4 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
8 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 egg, beaten (organic is best)
butter, for greasing

Steps:

preheat oven to 450*F.
cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and brush with olive oil.
roast in the preheated oven for about 30 min, until golden and completely soft.
let cool.
peel off the skin (you can discard this) and chop the rest of the eggplant finely.
reduce oven temp to 400*F.
mix the eggplant, pine nuts, olives, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, egg, and 6tbs of the parmesan cheese together in a bowl.
let rest for 10-15 minutes.
grease a large cookie sheet.
form the mixture into bite sized balls and put on cookie sheet.
top each one with a pinch of the remaining parmesan cheese.
bake for 15-20 min until golden and puffed up.
serve hot.

Tips for Making the Best Vegetarian Eggplant Meatballs:

Choose ripe, firm eggplants for the best texture and flavor.
Use a food processor or grater to finely chop the eggplant to ensure a smooth texture.
Don't skip the salting and draining process, as this helps to remove excess moisture and prevent the meatballs from becoming soggy.
Use a combination of bread crumbs and flour to help bind the meatballs together.
Grate the Parmesan cheese finely to ensure it melts evenly throughout the meatballs.
Season the meatballs generously with herbs and spices to enhance their flavor.
Form the meatballs into small, uniform sizes for even cooking.
Pan-fry the meatballs over medium heat to ensure they cook through without burning.
Serve the meatballs with your favorite sauce or as part of a vegetarian pasta dish.

Conclusion:

These vegetarian eggplant meatballs are a delicious and satisfying plant-based dish that can be enjoyed by vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. With their tender texture, flavorful filling, and crispy exterior, these meatballs are a great addition to any meal. Whether you serve them as an appetizer, main course, or side dish, these meatballs are sure to be a hit. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to enjoy these delectable vegetarian eggplant meatballs!